In November, the largest steel import permit applications were for Canada (561,000 NT, down 11% from October final), Mexico (422,000 NT, down 38%).

China is making contributions to the FIFA World Cup finals that are underway in Qatar.

Brazilian miner Vale SA on Wednesday forecast that it would produce about as much iron ore next year as this year, and its shares fell more than 4% on the muted outlook and forecasts for steadily rising capital expenditure.

India has included iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals in an export incentive scheme, according to a government statement on Wednesday.

The index, which slowed for a third straight month, compared with a forecast for a 5.86% rise in November in a Reuters poll and followed October's 5.98% increase.

:Shipments of Chinese goods to Russia rose 17.9% year-on-year in dollar terms, slowing from 34.6% in October, but still marking the fifth monthly double-digit growth in a row, according to Reuters calculations based on Chinese customs data on Wednesday.

German industrial production fell less than expected in October, official data showed on Wednesday, in part dragged down by a decrease in production in energy-intensive industrial sectors.

The figures, released every ten days, are based on a survey of nearly 2,000 wholesalers and distributors in 31 provincial-level regions nationwide.